Vipers Sports Club has been officially declared 2019/2020 StarTimes Uganda Premier League champions.following the cancellation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest development was announced by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president, Eng. Moses Hashim Magogo on Wednesday morning at the FUFA House, Mengo.
Following a series of consultation from various stakeholders, FUFA has decided to invoke the 75% rule as the current country health situation gives little hope for the continuation of football activities.
Article 18 of the Fufa Competition Rules and Regulations provides a outcome in the competition in cases where the all season matches are not completed;
“Before each and every club has completed its first-round fixture of the league shall be declared null and void.
Where all the clubs in the league have completed the first round fixture but less than 75% league games have been played, the table standings at the end of the first round shall be considered as the final table standings of the league.”
Where atleast one club has played 75% of the league games, the following formula shall be used by the TOC to determine the table position for the respective group.
The total number of points earned from the number of games played multiplied by the total number of games supposed to be played divided by the number of games played.
With 25 rounds of the league completed, log leaders Vipers SC with 54 points are champions since 75% of the league matches has been played.
The abandonment of the league sees Vipers lift their Fourth title adding on their 2010, 2014, and 2017 victories.
The decision has also seen Tooro United, Maroons, and Proline relegated down to the second tier, FUFA Big League.
In the Big League, Malabba Youth Development Association, (MYDA FC) and UPDF have been directly promoted to the top tier.
Kiboga Young, Kataka, Kitara, and Ndejje University will rumble in promotional playoffs to determine the third team.
In the Regional League, the first-round table has been considered the final, and group top teams advance to the playoff plus the Pre-FUFA Big League Knockout playoff.
In the FUFA Women Elite League, the first round table has been considered, giving Isra Soccer Academy and Makerere University get direct promotion to the FUFA Women Super League for the next season.
Elsewhere, the FUFA Women Cup has been cancelled along with the FUFA Juniors League and the FUFA Women Super League hence no relegations and champions have been declared.
The Stanbic Uganda Cup is being monitored closely and Magogo expects the remaining rounds to be played before next season.